Abstracts
Résumé
Cet article examine certains défis idéologiques, politiques et moraux auxquels font face les vérificateurs internes dans leur lutte contre la fraude et la corruption. Plus particulièrement, il considère l’influence de ces trois facteurs sur les définitions de la fraude et de la corruption et sur la perception des objectifs des vérifications internes. Les deux cas très connus de fraude et de corruption (le scandale des commandites au Canada et l’effondrement de WorldCom) sont abordés de manière à montrer comment ces facteurs peuvent nuire à l’indépendance, à l’intégrité et au jugement professionnel des vérificateurs. Ces deux cas d’espèce illustrent bien le phénomène des dénonciateurs et à quel point la foi de ceux-ci en l’intégrité du système peut en faire des victimes d’injustices et d’aliénation, ou même des « héros tragiques ». Finalement, les meilleures politiques d’intervention dans ces situations et les ressources didactiques que la profession a rendues disponibles et qui permettraient d’assister les personnes aux prises avec ces divers enjeux sont décrites.
Abstract
This paper examines some of the ideological, political and moral challenges that face internal auditors in their fight against fraud and corruption. Specifically, the paper considers how these three factors influence the definitions of fraud and corruption and the perceived purpose of internal auditing. The paper also examines two high-profile cases of fraud and corruption – the Canadian sponsorship scandal and the WorldCom collapse – as a means of showing how these factors can undermine the auditor’s independence, integrity and professional judgment. These two cases further highlight the phenomenon of “whistleblowing,” and how a whistleblower’s “faith in the system” can lead that person to become a victim of injustice and alienation, or “tragic hero.” Finally, the paper considers how to best deal with this situation, and briefly looks at the educational resources that the profession has made available to deal with these various challenges.
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